Furniture

ABSTRACT

An article of furniture includes a frame comprising a pair of similar spaced-apart side elements formed from lengths of steel rod curved at least near their ends and adapted to rest on a surface on the portions between the curved ends with these ends curving upwardly from the surface, and a pair of spaced-apart cross elements joining corresponding free ends of the side elements, and a web secured to, and spanning the space between, the cross elements. The portions of the side elements between the curved end portions are curved to form rockers, the curve of the side elements being such as to support one cross element higher above a surface on which the article stands than the other, the web being relatively tight between the cross elements.

United States Patent 1 Pedler June 24, 1975 1 FURNITURE [76] Inventor: Richard C. Pedler, 802 Exeter Hall, Sol Harris Crescent, Durban, Natal, South Africa 221 Filed: May 13, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 469,696

Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney, Agent, or F irm--Young & Thompson 5 7] ABSTRACT An article of furniture includes a frame comprising a pair of similar spaced-apart side elements formed from lengths of steel rod curved at least near their ends and adapted to rest on a surface on the portions between the curved ends with these ends curving upwardly from the surface, and a pair of spaced-apart cross elements joining corresponding free ends of the side elements, and a web secured to, and spanning the space between, the cross elements.

The portions of the side elements between the curved end portions are curved to form rockers, the curve of the side elements being such as to support one cross element higher above a surface on which the article stands than the other, the web being relatively tight between the cross elements.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FURNITURE This invention relates to articles of furniture.

The articles of furniture of the invention may be in the form of camp beds, babies beds, casual or camping chairs and the like.

According to the invention, an article of furniture includes a frame comprising a pair of similar spacedapart side elements formed from lengths of steel rod curved at least near their ends and adapted to rest on a surface on the portions between the curved ends with these ends curving upwardly from the surface, and a pair of spaced apart cross elements joining corresponding free ends of the side elements, and a web secured to, and spanning the space between, the cross elements.

The article of furniture may be collapsible, the cross elements comprising lengths of steel pipe, and a short length of each end of each side element being bent substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the side element, these short lengths being adapted to engage in the ends of the cross elements, and means being provided releasably to retain them so engaged.

The web is preferably inextensible in the direction parallel to the side elements, but resiliently stretchable in the direction parallel to the cross elements.

In one form of the invention the portions of the side elements between the curved end portions are curved to form rockers, the curve of the side elements being such as to support one cross element higher above a surface on which the article stands than the other, the web being relatively tight between the cross elements.

The article of furniture of this form may be a bed for a baby, and may include means to restrain a baby on the web, with its head towards the higher cross element, the restraining means being so located on the web that the weight of a baby restrained thereby will cause the bed to tilt on its rockers until the cross elements are substantially in the same horizontal plane.

The invention is discussed further with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an article of furniture according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view, and

FIG. 3 shows a front view.

Referring to the drawings, a bed for a baby includes a frame comprising a pair of spaced apart side elements 6 and a pair of spaced apart cross elements 8, and a web 4 secured to the cross elements 8 and spanning the gap between them. The side elements 6 are formed from lengths of steel rod curved into the shape of rockers. The elements 6 rest on a surface on the curved portions of the rods between the ends, which curve upwardly from the surface. The free ends of each of the elements 6 are bent at right angles to, and to one side of, the plane of the element 6, to form spigots 10. The spigots of one element 6 are formed to the side of the plane of that element 6 opposite to the side to which the spigots 10 of the other element 6 are formed, so that the spigots 10 of corresponding ends of the elements 6 can be directed towards each other when the elements 6 are set up in spaced apart relationship. The cross elements 8 are lengths of steel pipe. When the bed 2 is assembled, the spigots 10 engage in the bores of the cross elements 8. The edges of the web 4 secured to the cross elements 8 are wrapped around these elements 8 and stitched. The elements 8 are thus encased in cylindrical envelopes, open at both ends. At each open end there is a tab 12. These tabs 12 are provided with press studs, and are adapted to be secured around the portions of the elements 6 adjacent the spigots 10 when these are in engagement with the cross elements 8 to secure them in this engagement.

The web 4 is formed from a material that is nonextensible in the direction along the side elements 6, but is resiliently stretchable in the direction parallel to the cross elements 8. When the bed 2 is assembled the web 4 is relatively tight between the cross elements 8. The side elements 6 are so curved that the bed 2 rests on a surface with one cross element 8 higher than the other one. The higher element 8 forms the head of the bed 2. On the web 4 there is provided means for restraining a baby on the web 4 comprising a belt 14 and a support 16 to prevent a baby from sliding down the inclined web 4. Further, the position of these restraining means is chosen so that when a baby is held therein, its weight acts to tilt the bed 2 back on its rockers 6 until the web 4 tends towards the horizontal.

The bed 2 is easily dismantled and assembled.

The resilient nature of the side elements 6, provided by their curved configuration, provides a comfortable support for the web 4. The web 4 being stretchable in one direction only (sideways) prevents the curved elements 6 from straightening out while at the same time providing a hammock-like support for a body resting on it.

The web 4 is preferably formed from a vinyl type fabric. Such fabric, non-stretch longitudinally, but stretchable transversely, is available.

Where this vinyl fabric is employed, the bed 2 may be used to support a baby that is being washed.

In another embodiment of the invention, a camp bed, similar to the bed 2 but on a larger scale is feasible. Here the side elements 6 would however be straight between the curved end portions, and the cross elements 8 would be substantially the same distance from the ground to support a substantially horizontal web 4.

In a further embodiment, a collasible rocking chair, suitable for reclining on, could be constructed along the lines of the bed 2.

I claim:

1. A bed for a baby comprising a pair of spaced apart, substantially parallel, rocker elements formed from steel rod, each element being curved towards each end to form oppositely directed substantially S-shaped portions, the free ends of each element being directed away from each other, a pair of substantially straight, parallel, spaced apart cross elements joining corre sponding free ends of the side elements, and a web secured to and tensioned between the side elements, the web being substantially inextensible longitudinally, and means for restraining a baby on the web with its head towards one cross element, its feet towards the other, the configuration of the rocker elements being such that when the bed is occupied it tends to assume an equilibrium position in which the babys head is not lower than its feet.

2. A bed as claimed in claim 1 which is collapsible the cross elements comprising lengths of steel pipe, and a short length of each end of each rocker element being bent substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the rocker element, these short lengths being adapted to engage in the ends of the cross elements, and means being provided releasably to retain them so engaged.

3. A bed as claimed in claim 1 in which the web is resiliently stretchable in the direction parallel to the cross elements. 

1. A bed for a baby comprising a pair of spaced apart, substantially parallel, rocker elements formed from steel rod, each element being curved towards each end to form oppositely directed substantially S-shaped portions, the free ends of each element being directed away from each other, a pair of substantially straight, parallel, spaced apart cross elements joining corresponding free ends of the side elements, and a web secured to and tensioned between the side elements, the web being substantially inextensible longitudinally, and means for restraining a baby on the web with its head towards one cross element, its feet towards the other, the configuration of the rocker elements being such that when the bed is occupied it tends to assume an equilibrium position in which the baby''s head is not lower than its feet.
 2. A bed as claimed in claim 1 which is collapsible the cross elements comprising lengths of steel pipe, and a short length of each end of each rocker element being bent substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the rocker element, these short lengths being adapted to engage in the ends of The cross elements, and means being provided releasably to retain them so engaged.
 3. A bed as claimed in claim 1 in which the web is resiliently stretchable in the direction parallel to the cross elements. 